World’s longest NGV rally powered by LNG sets off

The Gas into Motors NGV rally has opened in Rudong (Jiangsu province, China). The route of the rally will traverse China, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The race is sponsored by the three countries’ largest energy majors – CNPC, KazMunayGas, and Gazprom. The rally’s partners include Germany’s Uniper and the Silkway Rally Association for the Support and Development of Motor Sports, the organiser of the Silk Way international rally.

The Gas into Motors race will primarily follow the route of the emerging international transit corridor entitled Europe – China. The rally will pass through the cities of Suqian, Zhengzhou, Xian, Dingxi, Wuwei, Jiayuguan, Hami, Turfan, Usu and Khorgas (China); Almaty, Taraz, Turkestan, Kyzylorda, Aralsk and Aktobe (Kazakhstan); Orenburg, Almetyevsk, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir, Torzhok and St. Petersburg (Russia). At 9881 km, Gas into Motors will become the world’s longest rally for NGVs powered by LNG.

The rally will feature a total of 15 trucks, cars and buses fuelled mostly by LNG, as well as mobile NGV refuellers. Refuelling services will be provided by the companies taking part in the project: KunLun Energy Company Limited (part of CNPC) in China and Gazprom Gazomotornoye Toplivo in Kazakhstan and Russia.

In the course of the race, meetings will be held with government officials and members of the public, producers and suppliers of gas-powered machinery and equipment and companies using and servicing gas-fuelled vehicles.

The race will conclude on 4 October at the 8th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum in St. Petersburg.

The Gas into Motors rally is meant to showcase natural gas as a cost-effective, eco-friendly and safe vehicle fuel and to demonstrate the diversity, usability, excellent quality and dependability of gas-powered machinery.

The event will serve as a barometer for the use of LNG-fuelled NGVs within a transcontinental motor corridor, contributing to the development of natural gas filing infrastructure along the Europe – China corridor and the harmonisation of regulations on the use of refuellers and gas-powered machinery in the participating countries.